Energy bills to drop from this weekend - but will still be almost double pre-crisis levels
30.06.2023 - 07:45
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Households will pay less for their gas and electricity from this weekend amid warnings that bills will still be almost double the amount they were before the energy crisis began.
The average household energy bill will fall by £426 a year from Saturday, July 1 after Ofgem dropped its price cap following tumbling wholesale prices. The regulator is cutting its price cap from £3,280 to £2,074 in a relief for consumers who have seen typical bills soar from £1,271 a year in October 2021 due to the global gas crisis.
Households have been partly shielded from the most recent rise in prices by the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG), which limited annual energy costs to £2,500 for the average household – subsidising Ofgem’s price cap.
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Ofgem’s latest cut means its cap will again govern household bills, resulting in a reduction of £426 from £2,500 to £2,074 – a fall of about 17%.
The energy price cap sets a limit on the maximum amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and electricity. The headline price cap figure is an average across households rather than an absolute cap on bills, so those that use more will pay more.
Which? Energy editor Emily Seymour said: “While the new price cap will see typical bills drop by around £500, energy bills will still be almost double the amount they were before the energy crisis began – which will be unaffordable for some households.
“If you are concerned about struggling to pay higher bills, there is help available. Speak to your energy provider about a payment plan you can afford and check to see if you qualify for any government schemes.”
Ms Seymour added: “Fixed deals are